What Foods Should You Eat to Get Rid of Belly Fat?

Christopher GodwinUpdated April 17, 2017

According to MayoClinic.com, carrying extra weight on your midsection can raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high triglyceride levels and some types of cancer. While heredity and age are factors for many people, lifestyle factors like poor diet and a lack of exercise are the most common reason for belly fat. However, there are some specific foods you can eat, along with getting adequate exercise, to help you get rid of belly fat.

Almonds

According to Quick and Simple, a single serving of 24 almonds per day can help to keep you feel fuller for a longer period of time than other snacks. Almonds are also high in vitamin E, manganese and magnesium, and they help lower your low-density lipoprotein levels, commonly referred to as “bad cholesterol,” and reduce your risk of heart disease, according to WHFoods.com. Almonds are relatively high in calories however, so limit yourself to one serving per day when trying to lose weight.

Berries

Berries like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are very high in fibre content with six grams in one cup of berries, according to the website Quick and Simple. Fibre helps in weight loss because it stays in the stomach longer than other substances foods, slowing down your rate of digestion and keeping you feeling full longer, according to CaloriesPerHour.com.

Eggs

According to Flat-Stomach-Exercises.com, eggs can help you burn unwanted belly fat and provide your body with necessary protein. While eggs have been linked with high cholesterol in the past, eggs provide dietary cholesterol, which has a minimal impact on blood cholesterol.

Lean Meats and Fish

Your body burns more calories when digesting protein than either carbohydrates or fats, according to Quick and Simple. Tuna, salmon and skinless chicken breast all qualify as high-protein lean meats as well, and fish also provides omega-3 fatty acids while being lower in total saturated fat.

Whole Grains

According to Nicola McKeown, a scientist with the USDA Human Nutrition Researcher Center on Aging at Tufts University, and PerishableNews.com, adults who ate three or more servings of whole grains per day and limited their refined grains to less than one serving per day had 10 percent less belly fat than those that did not follow the same diet plan, making whole grain breads, pasta and cereals a good choice for weight loss. According to Dr. Lisa Hark. and Dr. Darwin Dean, eating whole grains on a regular basis can also reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

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About the Author

Christopher Godwin is a freelance writer from Los Angeles. He spent his formative years as a chef and bartender crafting signature dishes and cocktails as the head of an upscale catering firm. He has since ventured into sharing original creations and expertise with the public. Godwin has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction in publications like "Spork Magazine," "Cold Mountain Review" and "From Abalone To Zest."